Gibson Custom Shop 1959 ES 345 Varitone Heavy Aged Ebony Bigsby

The 1959 ES 345™ Reissue, Heavy Aged, Ebony, is a rare opportunity to experience a historically significant semi-hollowbody brought to life with the unmistakable character of a well-loved vintage original. Part of Gibson Custom’s Limited Edition Collection, which was inspired by decades of Made to Measure special orders and the deep expertise and creativity of the artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, this reissue of one of the most elusive factory combinations from Gibson’s first Golden Age, a 1959 ES 345 finished in Ebony and with a factory-installed Bigsby® Vibrato tailpiece, captures the elegance, tonal complexity, and expressive versatility that made the ES 345 an icon for discerning players.

The body construction uses the classic layered maple/poplar/maple formula with multi-ply binding on the top and back. A solid maple centerblock enhances sustain and greatly increases feedback resistance, creating a powerful voice that thrives in both clean and overdriven settings. The Heavy Aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish, developed and artfully applied by the Murphy Lab, imparts decades of authentic wear, from lacquer checking to subtle playing marks, offering the unmistakable feel of an instrument that has lived a rich musical life.

The mahogany neck is carved to the coveted Authentic 1959 profile and joined to the body with a long neck tenon for exceptional resonance. A rosewood fretboard with aged cellulose split parallelogram inlays, 22 reissue medium jumbo frets, single ply binding, and a 24.75 inch scale length delivers a playing experience that is both familiar and inspiring. The headstock features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl, completing an aesthetic that is as refined as it is steeped in tradition.

Dual Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups deliver the airy bloom, warm midrange, and dynamic sensitivity associated with late 50s Patent Applied For humbucker™ tone. Paired with a three-way toggle switch, two volume controls, two tone controls, and a mono Varitone circuit, the ES 345 offers a broad tonal palette that delivers everything from smoky jazz comping to biting blues and rock leads and everything in between.

Gold hardware, black plastics, and an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge elegantly complement the Ebony finish. For players seeking extra expressiveness, the Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece adds another dimension of musicality with a push or pull of the bar. With Kluson® Deluxe tuners, nickel pickup covers, and a Lifton™ reissue hardshell case, this limited run reissue is both a collector’s piece and a stage-ready instrument of remarkable versatility.

The 1959 ES 345 Reissue with Bigsby, Heavy Aged, Ebony, stands as a testament to the era that defined electric guitar craftsmanship and to the modern artisans who continue that legacy today. Exceptionally rare in its original form and meticulously rendered here, it is a guitar built to inspire—visually, sonically, and artistically.